Monday, May 18, 2015

The America Ground in Hastings

I've been visiting Hastings, East Sussex since 2007 and spend quite a few days a year playing Crazy Golf there. On my most recent trip for the British Minigolf Championships I stayed in a hotel on the seafront in the old Victorian Town Centre for a change. While walking back on Friday evening I noticed a big painting and a plaque on Robertson Passage with some very interesting history on the area!

'The America Ground' plaque on Robertson Passage in Hastings

The area - formed as a new piece of land after storms hit Hastings in 1287 - was out of the control of Hastings Borough and in 1822 had become home to around 1,000 people. In defiance of action by Hastings Borough to collect taxes and rent, the residents of the area declared themselves independent from Hastings and the 24th US State!